The Bishop of Bling
Good Morning Friends,
The Pope’s recent comments on the misuse of capitalism is interesting and timely. It is that time of the year when people buy things that they do not need. It is that time of the year we are influenced to buy things we do not even want. I believe the excesses in the church which he is fighting and his history in a culture where corruption stymied what good economic development might have made possible are converging in a policy that calls for more of God in the equation. That is a good thing. Lust for money and things is a great evil. As trust becomes a thing of the past those who wish to become agents in culture for Christian values may need to take note of the way business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, the family and religion effect our buying habits. New agents of change will need to understand the larger story and where the real spiritual battles are being fought. The Pope does and that is why he fired The Bishop of Bling.
Scripture: For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Matthew 24: 37-44
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 13: 11-14 (NRSV)
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Psalm 122 (NRSV)
Message: A German bishop who was suspended from his diocese over a house renovation that reportedly cost $42.7 million is now spending his days in a decidedly less lavish monastery. He is recovering. Reminds me of Jesus throwing out the investment bankers in the Temple. But putting blame on others misses the point. There is a person battle being waged here. You may think you’re in total control when it comes to shopping, but consider this. We buy more of everything if we’re hungry. Shopping with a partner can lead to you adding items to the cart that appeal to your shopping mate. People with less religion in their lives are more likely to purchase higher priced, brand-name products and purchase more of them. Consumers are likely to spend more money when they are feeling sad and they are more likely to desire nicer products. But even happiness can lead to increased spending. Pride comes before the biggest of purchases. If you are walking counter clockwise in a store you are more likely to spend more during your visit and it almost goes without saying that the larger the shopping cart, the greater the likelihood that we will purchase more. New product adopters pay more for items and for some reason perhaps as a defense to a lifetime of limited choices, those condition to be at the end of the line because their last name falls at the end of the alphabet purchase more expensive items. Of course knowing may help but some shopping behavior is determined by genetics. Yes there is a shopping gene and watch out for it is related to the gambling gene as well. But even having said that, I think our battle does not lie in the human realm but in the spiritual. It is a war of cosmic proportions. Friends, our portions need to be measured. Do you have the will to do what is right? Know that we are not here to fight with men but to give them an opportunity to be free from the captivity of evil through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only that in the end tips the scales in favor of love.
Pray for people at the end of the line. Pray we who are redeemed by God know our place in service to our Lord. Pray we not get confused about whom we serve. Pray we realize that every financial crisis begins with a human spiritual crisis. Pray we realize that market forces function more appropriately when trust is higher. Pray we realize whom we are to trust and obey. Pray if we are indeed on an economic Titanic that we know enough to get off.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 